Method for the distribution of audio-visual information and a system for the distribution of audio-visual information

ABSTRACT

A jukebox system, including a server that stores a master library of audiovisual selections; a plurality of jukeboxes, each of which is operable to store audiovisual selections received from the server and to play the audiovisual selections at the request of a user; a communication system through which the server and the jukeboxes communicate; wherein the server is operable to define authorized uses for the audiovisual selections received from the server; and further wherein the authorized uses correspond to various rights that third parties have in the audiovisual selections, the rights requiring by law or regulation payment of respective royalties; and further wherein the server maintains information on the authorized uses made by each of the jukeboxes and determines the amount of royalties due.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 13/962,454filed Aug. 8, 2013, which is a continuation of application Ser. No.13/487,545 filed Jun. 4, 2012, which is a continuation of applicationSer. No. 12/071,003 filed Feb. 14, 2008, which is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 11/155,690 filed Jun. 20, 2005, which is adivisional of application Ser. No. 09/664,494 filed Sep. 18, 2000, whichclaims priority to French Application No. 0008394 filed Jun. 29, 2000,the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated byreference in this application.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method for the distribution of audio-visualinformation and a system for the distribution of audio-visualinformation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the prior art, devices are known that permit a user having a terminaland a connection to a server of audio-visual information to downloadpieces of music in order to listen to them in real time or to store themin data storage means, either connected to the terminal, ortransportable so as to be able to play them back or duplicate the piecesof music an unlimited number of times. However, most of these devices donot permit the calculation of royalties due to those having rights tothe pieces of music since none of these devices enable the use made ofthe piece of music to be verified.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Hence, this invention has the objective of remedying the disadvantagesof the prior art by proposing a method of distributing audio-visualinformation enabling one to identify and to calculate the rights ofreproduction of the audio-visual information distributed.

This first objective is achieved by a method for the distribution ofaudio-visual information between a server and at least one terminalconnected by bi-directional means of communication to the servercharacterized in that it comprises: a step of registering each terminalat the server to identify the terminal in a unique way and to record thetype of terminal, a step of authenticating the terminal by the server onthe occasion of each connection of the terminal to the server, a step ofdownloading at least one selection of audio-visual information chosen bythe user of the terminal during its connection to the server, the formatin which the selections of audio-visual information are transmittedbeing such that the destination terminal can make use of them, a step ofstoring the use made of each selection of audio-visual information in adata base of the server.

In another embodiment, the use of a selection of audio-visualinformation comprises, either the running in real time of theaudio-visual information on the destination terminal, or the storing ofthe audio-visual information for the purpose of running it on thedestination terminal, or the running, in real time, of the audio-visualinformation, after storing the audio-visual information on thedestination terminal.

In another embodiment, the authentication step includes a step of theterminal sending stored information relating to the desired uses to bemade of the audio-visual information downloaded onto the terminal.

In another embodiment, the method includes a step in which the serverprocesses information stored or received and relating to the uses forthe audio-visual information downloaded onto the terminal in order todetermine the amount of royalties to be paid to each of the partieshaving rights over the audio-visual information.

In another embodiment, the registration step comprises a step of sendingdecoding and/or decryption means as a function of the format in whichthe audio-visual information will be transmitted to the terminal andwhich corresponds to the specified uses.

In another embodiment, the type of terminal defines the use which willbe made of the audio-visual information on the terminal.

In another embodiment, the method comprises a step of paying for theselections commanded, either during the authentication step or duringthe choice of the user, or before the downloading step.

In another embodiment, the method comprises a step of storing on theterminal statistical records concerning the use of the selections storedby the terminal and a step of sending, by the terminal, of informationcorresponding to the statistical records, during connection between theterminal and the server.

A second aim of the invention consists of proposing a system for thedistribution of audio-visual information which permits the calculationof the rights of reproduction of audio-visual information distributed.

This second objective is achieved by a device for the distribution ofaudio-visual information comprising a server including mass data storagemeans that include audio-visual information for representing a pluralityof musical and/or video selections, and at least one terminal includingdata storage means and a bi-directional communication link with theserver, the device being characterized in that the data storage means ofthe server comprise an identification of each terminal defining the useof the audio-visual information transmitted to the terminal, eachterminal comprising means interactive with the user to permit the choiceof at least one selection through the communication link with the serverand means of running the information sent by the server andrepresentative of an audio-visual selection.

In another embodiment, the running means comprise means of running theaudio-visual information sent by the server in real time, on theterminal.

In another embodiment, the running means comprise means of forbiddingthe re-use of the audio-visual information sent.

In another embodiment, the running means of the terminal comprise meansof storing the audio-visual information sent.

In another embodiment, the terminal comprises means of recordinginformation relating to the use made of the selections sent by theserver to the terminal.

In another embodiment, the server includes means of calculatingroyalties to be paid to each of the parties having a right over the useof the selections sent to the terminals, from information recorded bythe server and transmitted by each terminal and relating to the use ofthe selections.

In another embodiment, the exploitation means comprise a Digital SignalProcessor DSP comprising means of decoding audio-visual informationtransmitted by the server in order to provide digital information, adigital-analog converter, at least one output for digital information todata storage means and command means for each digital output in order toauthorize or not to authorize the storage of the digital information.

It must be obvious to persons skilled in the art that this inventionpermits embodiments in numerous other specific forms without departingfrom the field of application of the invention as claimed. Consequently,these embodiments must be considered as being given for illustrativepurposes and may be modified within the field defined by the scope ofthe attached claims.

In another embodiment, the interactive comprising selection meansincluding a pointer and or a touch screen associated with displays meansfor displaying at least one dialogue screen, and/or a vocal commandsystem associated with audio reproduction means for restituting at leastone vocal message.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention, with its characteristics and advantages, will emerge moreclearly on reading the description made making reference to the appendeddrawings in which:

FIG. 1A represents a simplified diagram of the device for thedistribution of audio-visual information according to an embodiment ofthe invention, and FIG. 1B shows a variation where there is one serverand multiple terminals in accordance with another embodiment;

FIG. 2 represents the logic diagram of the operations carried out duringthe communication between the server and a terminal of the device forthe distribution of audio-visual information according to the invention;and

FIG. 3 represents a diagram of the terminal of the device for thedistribution of audio-visual information according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before describing the invention, it should be recalled in which contextthe broadcasting of audio-visual information is located. Firstly, byinformation or audio-visual selections, one must understand digitalinformation or information arising from digitization that isrepresentative of an artistic work. According to legislation currentlyin force in most countries, no sound reproduction or copy of an artisticwork can be made without the agreement of the person or persons havingrights to it, namely, in particular, its authors and/or composers and/orinterpreters and/or promoters (recording company) and/or distributors.As a general rule, this or these agreement(s) is/are given in exchangefor the payment of royalties.

By way of example, we will describe in what follows, the scope and thecontents of certain rights.

The rights to artistic audio-visual works are of several types and are afunction in particular, of the use which is made of the, artistic work.In the case of a musical work, first of all there are rights linked tothe sound reproduction of the work. Hence as soon as a musical work isreproduced, that is to say, as soon as it is played on a sound playbackdevice, master rights are due to all or some of those having rights.When the musical work is copied, that is to say, informationrepresentative of the musical work is transferred onto another medium,then, for each copy of the work, mechanical rights are due to all orsome of those having rights. Hence any downloading of a song from amemory of a server to another memory of a remote terminal constitutes acopy of an artistic work.

When the artistic work consists of the association of still or movingimages with sound, the reproduction of this work also gives rise tosynchronization rights which can be negotiated by mutual agreement bythe legal representatives of those having rights and authorized tocollect the royalties according to regulations which are predefined butmay vary from one work to another.

When an artistic audio-visual work is reproduced in public, it givesrise, in certain cases, to public performance rights, recognized ingeneral by legal bodies who represent parties having rights and who areauthorized to collect the royalties in accordance with regulations whichare predefined but may vary from one work to another.

The rights which have just been mentioned are, by way of example. Otherrights linked to the use of artistic audio-visual works can exist orarise. Similarly, the definition of the rights and particularly theirconditions of application can change. However, whatever the type ofright stemming from the use of an artistic work and whatever itsapplication conditions, the method and the device according to theinvention can be applied.

As previously explained, the devices for the distribution ofaudio-visual information of the prior art did not provide means enablingone to determine the total amount to be paid to those having rights anddid not exercise any controls whatsoever over the use of theaudio-visual selections once they had been distributed. Consequently,the distribution of audio-visual information using these devices of theprior art is most of the time carried out regardless of the rights ofthird parties to the artistic works corresponding to the audio-visualinformation.

This invention proposes to resolve this problem by providing a deviceand a method for the distribution of audio-visual information thatenables one to take into account the payment of royalties and taxes tothose having rights to an artistic work, when the work is commandedusing a terminal connected to a server specialized in the distributionof artistic works in the form of audio-visual information through acommunication network.

One non-limitative embodiment of the invention will now be describedmaking reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B. The device described in whatfollows enables one to take into account rights linked to the soundreproduction and the rights linked to the copying of sound works inparticular. However, by applying the same principles, it is possible totake into account all the rights linked to any sort of use of anaudio-visual work.

The distribution device according to the invention comprises a server 2for the distribution of audio-visual information connected by abi-directional communication link 3 to at least one remote terminal 1.FIG. 1A only shows a single terminal. However, the server 2 according tothe invention can be connected in a simultaneous fashion and throughlinks of various types to several terminals 1.

The server 2 includes a module 20 for the management of communicationwith the terminals 1. This module 20 can include different sub-modulesso as to take into account the different possible types ofcommunications' links. Hence, a first sub-module comprises acommunication interface that permits linkage to an ISDN or IntegratedServices Digital Network. A second sub-module comprises a communicationinterface that allows connection to a communication link of thesatellite type. A third sub-module comprises a communication interfacethat permits linkage to a communication link of the telephonic type,particularly a traditional wire connection or an ADSL or cellular typeof link. A fourth sub-module comprises a communication interface thatpermits linkage to a communication link of the television cable networktype. The communication management module comprises transcription meansso that, on the one hand, in the server terminal communication directionA, it transcribes the information coming from the server into the formatsuited to the type of linkage 3, and, on the other hand, in the terminalserver communication direction B, it transcribes the information comingfrom the terminal into the format suited to the type of linkage 3. Thecommunication management module 20 comprises means of analyzing signalsreceived from the terminals 1 in order to extract from these signals,requests from the terminals or responses from the terminals 1 to therequests from the server 2. Finally, the communication management module20 comprises means of transmitting requests or the responses to therelevant module of the server.

The communication between the different modules of the server 2 iscreated using a bi-directional bus 25 known of itself.

A first module 21, called an authentication module comprises, forexample, in a data base 210, a piece of information representative of anidentification of all the terminals 1 liable to establish a connectionwith the server 2. The authentication module 21 comprises means ofupdating the data base 210 so that each time a user wishes a newterminal to be able to connect to the server 2, a new identification isassigned to this new terminal 1. This updating is carried out, forexample, using a registration procedure. This registration procedure hasthe purpose, on the one hand, of assigning an identifier and, forexample, a pass word unique to each terminal. Similarly, this procedurespecifies the use to be made of the information which will betransmitted subsequently to the server 2. In effect, there are severalways of using the audio-visual information transmitted by the server 2.In a first case, the terminal 1 can be used to listen to a musicalselection commanded to the server 2, in real time. In a second case, theterminal 1 can be used to store a musical selection commanded to theserver 2 in order to be replayed an unlimited number of times. Hence, inthe first case, a single royalty for a single broadcast is due to thosehaving rights. Within the second case, there are two possiblesituations. In a first situation, on the one hand, a royalty for copyingthe work must be calculated and paid and on the other hand a royalty foreach sound playback of the selection must be calculated and paid. In asecond situation, payment for storage of the data and its unlimited useis made as a one-off payment by the user. This situation is very similarto the purchase of songs on traditional media such as an audio CD or acassette. In this case, the royalties can also be calculated as aone-off payment for each downloading. Hence it can be understood thatthe management of these uses is necessarily different since these usesgive rise to royalty payments calculated in a different way. Thisdifference in calculation resides not only in the rate applied but alsoin the number of times that this rate must be applied.

Hence, at the time of registration, a code or a unique key, for example,unknown to the user is assigned to the terminal to determine the use oruses which may be made of the audio-visual information sent by theserver 2 to the terminal 1. This code or this unique key is associatedwith the identifier and to the pass word of the terminal. By use, onemust understand all the uses that can be envisaged for a piece ofaudio-visual information, namely reproduction in a private or publiccontext, copying and reproduction on demand or in a random fashion of aselection list.

The authentication module 21 also includes means of managing theconnection of each terminal 1 registered with the server 2. Thesemanagement means will be described later making reference to FIG. 2.

The server 2 includes a second module 22 called the graphic interface.This interface module 22 comprises means of sending dialogue screens tothe terminals having established a connection with the server. Inanother embodiment variation, the dialogue screens may be complementedor replaced by vocal messages. The dialogue screens and/or the vocalmessages are sent by the communications management module 21 to theterminals having established a connection with the server 2, to displayon terminal 1 display means 122, screens that include selection windows,menus or any other dialogue box to guide the user in his selectioncommand or commands and, for example, to permit the terminal 1authentication procedure to take place when connection is made with theserver 1. The graphic interface module 22 comprises means of processingeither requests for a selection from the terminal 1 during the selectionprocedure, or requests from the authentication module 21 during theauthentication procedure for the terminal 1. In effect, during theauthentication procedure, the authentication module 21 must ask theterminal 1 to identify itself so as to authorize access of the terminalto the server. This request is carried out by means of a request sent bythe authentication module 21 to the terminal 1 through thecommunications management module 20. The request includes asking for theidentifier and the pass word of the terminal in order to verify that theterminal which is attempting to make the connection is properlyregistered, that is to say that its identifier and its pass word arecorrectly contained in the data base 210. This request is sent to theterminal 1 by means of a particular screen generated by the graphicinterface module 22 which is then activated by the authentication module21 so as to transmit the corresponding authentication screen to theterminal 1. In another variant, the authentication module 21 may includea sub-module generating this screen and can transmit it to thecommunication management module 20 for sending to the terminal 1.

The server 2 includes a third module constituting a selection library 23of audio-visual items. This library collects together notably all theselections available for downloading to the terminals 1. The selectionlibrary 23 may also include selections which are not yet available fordownloading. This case arises when the selections concerned have notbeen made the subject of an agreement for their broadcasting or theircopying. In effect, according to the invention, a selection is only madeavailable to the terminals when the authorizations for reproduction orfor copying have been obtained from all those having rights over thatselection. Hence the selections can be stored in data base form and aflag system enables one to identify that a selection is available fordownloading to the terminals. For each agreement with a party havingrights over the broadcasting or the copying of a selection, a flag isused indicating if the agreement has been obtained. When all the flagsindicate that all the agreements have been obtained then the selectionis available for downloading. If, on the contrary, a single flagindicates that an agreement has not been obtained, then the selection isnot available for downloading as long as the flag remains in the samestate.

The server 2 includes a fourth module 24 called the royalty calculationmodule. This module 24 comprises means of collecting information sentand received from each terminal 1 concerning the use which is made ofthe selections sent. The information collected is then stored on datastorage means of the server. The royalty calculation module 24 alsocomprises, for example, in a data base, elements for calculatingroyalties as a function of the number of copies or broadcasts of eachselection. These calculation elements are in particular, the royaltyrates claimed for each party having rights for each use of theselection. Hence, for one and the same selection, the royalty rate forreproduction can be different to the royalty rate for copying whichitself may be different to a one-off royalty for the copying of aselection with a view to its unlimited reproduction. Similarly, aspreviously explained, a royalty rate can be specified for every otherright over the selection that exists. So as to carry out the calculationfrom these elements, the royalty calculation module 24 receives, forexample, from the communications management module 20, information aboutthe sending of selections to the terminals 1. As soon as a selection istransmitted to a terminal 1, the communications management module 20notifies the collecting means of the royalty calculation module 24 byindicating to it if the selection is being sent for listening to in realtime or for storage with a view to unlimited use with a one-off paymentor for any other use giving rise to calculation of royalties. In effect,as previously explained, if the selection is simply listened to in realtime, there is not, in relation to legislation currently in force, anychange of medium and hence only reproduction rights are due. If,contrary to this, the selection is transmitted to a terminal 1 which isauthorized to store the selections transmitted, then copying rights aredue. In another example, if the selection is intended to be played in apublic place, then performance rights are also due.

Similarly, when each terminal 1 receives, for the purposes of storage, aselection sent by the server 2, during each connection to the server 2,information determines the number of times that the selection receivedon the terminal 1 has been played. When the management module 20receives this information, it notifies it to the information collectionmeans of the royalty calculation module 24 which can then carry out theexact calculation of the royalties to be paid for each of the partieshaving rights as a function of the calculation elements stored in thedata base. In the case where the royalties for the storage and theplayback are due in the form of a one-off payment, the informationdetermining the number of times the selection received on the terminal 1has been played is nevertheless requested and stored for informationpurposes as explained later.

Each terminal 1 according to the invention is organized around a device10 with a microprocessor. This device 10 includes a plurality of controlcircuits 11, 12, 13, 14 that permit management particularly of thecommunication with the server, the choice and the commanding ofselections, listening to a selection in real time, the storage ofselections and the restitution of the selections stored. A first controlcircuit 11 constitutes the communication interface with thecommunication link 3 with the server 2. This first control circuit 11can be matched to a link that may be a telephone link, a satellite linkor a cable link. The function of this first circuit 11 is substantiallythe same as that of the management module of the server, but on theterminal 1 side. In effect, the first control circuit 11 includestranscription means either to edit the data A arriving over the link 3so that they are processed by the microprocessor device, or to edit thedata B sent by the terminal 1 to the server 2.

The second control circuit 12 comprises interface means between the userand the terminal 1. These interface means essentially comprise displaymeans 122 and selection means 121. The display means 122 include, forexample, a monitor or a liquid crystal screen. The selection means 121comprise, for example, a pointer, such as a mouse, or a touch screen ora vocal command system or a radio-frequency or infra-red remote commanddevice. These interface means permit the display of selection helpscreens generated by the graphic interface module 22 and then sent overthe communication link 3. The selection means 121 allow the user todefine and then validate his selection choices or to respond to requestsfrom the server 2, for example, during the terminal 1 authenticationprocedure, this being done in manual fashion by a touch screen orkeyboard or remotely, for example by voice.

The third circuit 13 comprises restitution means for the selections.When the selections are musical pieces, the third circuit 13 isconnected to a sound amplification device 130. An embodiment example ofthe third circuit 13 is shown in FIG. 3. According to this variant, thethird circuit 13 is created around a signal processor designated belowas DSP (Digital Signal Processor). The DSP receives the stream ofaudio-visual information corresponding to the selection on its input.This audio-visual information is digital data that has been compressedor encoded and possibly encrypted. According to the embodimentvariation, the data are encoded in format MP3, then encrypted in aproprietary format MMP. The MMP format data are firstly decrypted by adecrypting module, 1310 in FIG. 3, to provide a stream of digital datain MP3 format. This data flow is applied to the input of a decodingmodule 1311 that enables one to obtain, on its output, a flow ofdecompressed data in a standard digital format, such as WAV format. Thisdata flow in WAV format is then applied to the input of a digital-analogconverter 132 to be sent to the sound amplification device 130. Thedecrypting module 1310 and the module 1311 can be exclusively of thesoftware type or the firmware type.

As explained previously, a remotely loaded selection can be eitherplayed or stored in order to be replayed or may be played once in realtime. In this latter case, the data flow must in no case be accessibleto the user. In other words, the digital data must not be stored.Contrary to this, in the first case, the digital data can be stored.Hence the DSP includes at least one command 133.1, 133.2, 133.3 foraccess to storage means 140.1, 140.2, 140.3 of the terminal 1. Thisaccess command 133.1, 133.2, 133.3 allows or does not allow the transferof the data flow in one of three formats MMP, MP3, WAV to an area 140.1,140.2, 140.3 of the storage means 140 of the terminal 1. According to afirst embodiment variant, each terminal is configured during theregistration procedure on the server 2 for a specified use and one ofthe commands is validated to authorize the type of use provided for.

In a second embodiment, the terminal is upgradeable and its mode of usecan be adapted when under way. In this case the server 2 sendsinformation permitting validation for operation according to one of thethree types of use defined above at the same time as the audio-visualinformation.

In a final embodiment, when the use provided for on the terminal doesnot include the storage of transmitted audio-visual information, none ofcommands 133.1, 133.2, 133.3 is validated which prevents any storage ofthe audio-visual information on the data storage means of the terminal1.

Hence, a first access command 133.1 is sent on a link situated between apoint upstream of the decrypting module 1310 and the data storage means140.1. This first access command 133.1 allows or does not allow storageof a selection in the encoded or MMP encrypted format. A second type ofaccess command 133.2 is sent on a link whose first end is connectedbetween the decrypting module 1310 and the decoding module 1311 andwhose second end is connected to the data storage means 140.2 of theterminal 1. Hence, this second type of access command 133.2 allows ordoes not allow the storage of a selection in the MP3 encoded format.Finally, a third type of access command 133.3 is sent on a link whosefirst end is placed between the decoding module 1311 and thedigital-analog converter 132 and whose second end is connected to thedata storage means 140.3 of the terminal 1. Hence this third type ofaccess command 133.3 allows or does not allow the storage of a selectionin the decompressed digital format WAV.

In order to provide better protection against fraud and in particular,against illegal copying of musical pieces, the preferred access commandis the first. In effect by suppressing the second and the third accesscommands, the only format available for storage is the MMP format. Thisformat being both encrypted and encoded, the stored data is unusablewithout the decrypting and decoding algorithms.

The protection of digital data transferred to the terminal 1 can beachieved by any other means complementary or equivalent to encodingand/or encryption.

The fourth circuit 14 manages the data storage means 140. These datastorage means 140 can be of the hard disk type, removable data storage(flash memory, diskette, CD-ROM) or any other type of semi-conductor,magnetic or optical memory.

According to the invention, the terminal 1 may be, either dedicatedhardware, that is to say hardware specially designed for dialogue withthe server 2, or standard hardware.

When the terminal 1 is dedicated, the DSP 13, integrates both thesoftware and the hardware elements for the decrypting and the decodingof the data flow coming from the server 2. Similarly, the identifier andthe pass word are, for example, stored in advance in the data base 210of the authentication module 21.

When the terminal 1 is a standard terminal, it must receive, by means ofthe first circuit controlling the link, a certain number of softwareelements sent, for example, by the server, for example, during theregistration procedure before being able to be connected to the server 2and being able to use the data transmitted by the server 2. Similarly,the user of the terminal 1 must possess an identifier and a pass word tobe identified by the server at the time it is connected. In effect, aspreviously explained, the user must specify what use will be made of theselections on the terminal 1 so that the authentication module 21assigns the code or the key which is appropriate to identify this use.

These software elements sent, for example, by the server include aconfiguration for the terminal 1 to authorize the dialogue between thecommunication management module 20 and the first circuit 11 in a waythat permits, in particular, the processing of informationrepresentative of the screen display on the display means 122 of theterminal 1. Secondly, these software elements include, when this isnecessary, means of decrypting and/or decoding the audio-visualinformation transmitted by the server 2. Thirdly, these softwareelements include, when the terminal 1 is authorized to store the datacorresponding to the selections, means of retaining a display of allsubsequent occasions on which the selections stored on the terminal 1were run. These means of retaining a display of the selections includemeans of creating and updating, for example, a log file containing thenumber of times each selection contained on the terminal has been run aswell as the dates on which the selection was run.

In an embodiment variation shown in FIG. 1B, the exchange of informationbetween the server 2 and the terminals 1.1.1 to 1.n.n.sub.3 is carriedout by means of at least one so-called multi-service server 4.1 to 4.n.

The terminals 1.1.1 to 1.n.n.sub.3 shown contain at least elements whichcarry out the essential functions of a terminal as described previouslywith reference to FIG. 1A.

The architecture shown in FIG. 1B arises when the terminals 1.1.1 to1.n.n.sub.3 are already connected to a multi-service server 40.1 to40.n. By way of an example, a first multi-service server 4.1 includes asystem for the distribution of television programs by cable thatincludes a return channel. In this case, the terminals 1.1.1 to1.1.n.sub.1 can be made up of a decoder coupled to a television and toappropriate selection means. A second multi-service server 4.2 is madeup of a cellular telephone operator. In this case, the terminals 1.2.1to 1.2.n.sub.2 can be constituted by the cellular telephone. Theselection means are, for example, constituted by the keyboard or a vocalcommand system.

The communication protocol between each terminal 1.1.1 to 1.n.n.sub.3and its associated multi-service server 4.1 to 4.n to permit theselection and the reception of audio-visual items stored on the server 2is managed by the multi-service server 4.1 to 4.n through an interface41.1 to 41.n specific to each communication link 51.1 to 51.n between aserver 4.1 to 4.n and the associated terminals 1.1.1 to 1.n.n.sub.3. Thecommunication links 51.1 to 51.n between a server 4.1 to 4.n and theassociated terminals 1.1.1 to 1.n.n.sub.3 are bi-directional.

The communication link 502.1 to 502.n between the server 2 and eachmulti-service server 4.1 to 4.n is bi-directional and, preferably, is ahigh speed link.

The server 2 then includes a management module 20.1 to 20.n for eachlink 51.1 to 51.n, with a multi-service server 4.1 to 4.n insofar asthis link requires a specific communication protocol. Similarly, eachmulti-service server 4.1 to 4.n is fitted with an interface 40.1 to 40.nnotably a hardware and a software interface for communication with theserver 2.

The operation of the device is substantially identical to that of thedevice described with reference to FIG. 1A except for the fact that therequests sent by the server 2 to the terminal are translated by themulti-service server 4.1 to 4.n associated with the terminal inconcordance with the communication protocol between the multi-serviceserver 4.1 to 4.n and the terminal 1.1.1 to 1.n.n.sub.3. So as toaccelerate the processing of the requests from the terminals and thedialogue between the server 2 and the terminals 1.1.1 to 1.n.n.sub.3,certain modules or parts of modules can be deported onto themulti-service server 4.1 to 4.n associated with the terminal. Hence, theregistration procedure for a terminal may be managed at least in part,by a specific module of the multi-service server 4.1 to 4.n associatedwith the terminal. In effect, for most multi-service servers 4.1 to 4.n,each terminal is already registered for a particular service from themulti-service server 4.1 to 4.n. The terminal therefore has a uniqueidentification on the multi-service server 4.1 to 4.n. Thisidentification can be preserved to permit access to the service ofdistributing audio-visual selections from the server 2.

Similarly, the graphic module of the server 2 can be deported onto eachmulti-service server 4.1 to 4.n. In effect, each multi-service server4.1 to 4.n may have the same type of module to offer its own services.It is therefore sufficient to add the functionalities previouslydescribed in this module.

Hence, when a terminal 1.1.1 to 1.n.n.sub.3 registered on the associatedmulti-service server 4.1 to 4.n for the service of distributingaudio-visual selections, desires access to this service, for the firsttime, it authenticates itself on its multi-service server 4.1 to 4.n.Next, it notifies, for example, the sending of a request or thevalidation of a command to its multi-service server 4.1 to 4.n. Themulti-service server 4.1 to 4.n verifies, from the identifier suppliedby the terminal, that the latter can access the service from the server2. In the affirmative, the multi-service server 4.1 to 4.n sends arequest to the server 9 through the communication interface 40.1. Onreception of this request, the server 2 sends, by means of a module forcommunication 20.1 with the respective multi-service server 4.1 to 4.n,the necessary information to the multi-service server 4.1 to 4.n so thatthe latter transmits the dialogue screens to the terminal so as topermit the choice or the validation of the choice of at least oneaudio-visual selection. When the choice is validated, the audio-visualdata corresponding to the chosen selection are transmitted by the server2 to the terminal via the associated multi-service server 4.1 to 4.n.During this transmission, the format of the audio-visual datacorresponding to the chosen selection can be modified by the associatedmulti-service server 4.1 to 4.n so that the format is compatible withthe protocol of the communication between the terminal and theassociated multi-service server 4.1 to 4.n. In the context of thisembodiment example, the multi-service server 4.1 to 4.n may behave likea terminal with respect to the server 2.

Hence, for example, the multi-service server 4.1 to 4.n can managelistening stations or a background music device. In this variant, themulti-service server 4.1 to 4.n is identified at the server to take intoconsideration the uses which will be made by the listening stations andthe reproductions of the selections made as background music.

Hence in this case, and as previously described, a record, for example,in the form of a report file, is implemented on the multi-service serverand is updated each time a selection stored on the server is used.Consequently, when a musical selection is played in the context ofbackground music, it must give rise to the payment of specific rights.In order to do this, the report file stores this use. Hence, when theinformation contained in the report file is transmitted to the server 2,the rights corresponding to a reproduction in public can be calculatedfor the purpose of receiving payment.

Similarly, a listening station may permit a public reproduction of theselection. In this case, the report file stores the reproduction of eachselection in order to be able to calculate the corresponding rights.

The operation of the device according to the invention will now bedescribed making reference to the logic diagram in FIG. 2. This logicdiagram represents the succession of operations that occur when aconnection is made between the terminal 1 and the server 2. Aspreviously explained, the first connection of a terminal is preceded bya registration procedure in the course of which the terminal 1 isidentified to the server and the terminal receives, if the need arises,software elements that permit terminal/server dialogue and theexploitation of the data transmitted by the server 2.

In a first step 401, the link between the terminal and the server isinitialized. This initialization corresponds, notably to the connectionbetween the management module 20 of the server and the first circuit 11of the terminal. Next there is a step requesting authentication 402. Inthis step, the server 2 sends a request to the terminal through theauthentication module 21 to ask for its identifier and its pass word.The reception of this request is translated on the terminal 1, forexample, by the display of a welcome screen generated by the graphicinterface module 22 of the server 2 or by a graphic module of theterminal comprising a first zone for entering the identifier and asecond zone for entering the pass word. The user enters the identifierand the pass word which have been assigned to him during theregistration procedure and then validates his entry. This validationpermits the sending of a response to the request sent by the server.This step of asking for authentication can be automatic when theidentifier and the pass word are stored on the terminal 1. As soon asthe request asking for authentication is received by the terminal, theidentifier and the pass word are returned to the server without anyparticular display.

Subsequently a third verification step 403 is carried out at the server2. This step consists of verifying if the identifier and the pass wordcorrespond to a registered terminal. In the negative, either a newrequest for identification is sent to the terminal or the connectionbetween the server and the terminal is broken under the initiative ofthe server. In the affirmative, in a fourth step 404, the authenticationmodule 21 verifies the status specified for the terminal 1, namely ifthe terminal is authorized to store selections or if the terminal isonly authorized to run a selection in real time or if the terminal isauthorized to run a previously stored selection an unlimited number oftimes. If the terminal is authorized to store, a request asking for areport file is sent to the terminal in a fifth step 405. If the terminalis not authorized to store the selections, a sixth step 406 called theselection choice step is triggered. Of course, when other uses of aselection are possible on the terminal 1, corresponding information iscontained in the authentication module.

When a terminal 1 which is authorized to store the selection, receivesthe request asking for the report file, it sends to the server thecontents of the report file if this contains information and thenempties the file. If the report file is empty, the terminal sends amessage indicating that the file is empty. If after a specified periodof time, the server does not receive a reply, then it breaks theconnection with the terminal in an eighth step or repeats its request.If the server receives a reply, the communication management module 20,on the one hand triggers the sixth selection choice step 406 and, on theother hand verifies if this reply contains information about the runningof the selections stored on the terminal. In the affirmative, in a ninthstep 409, the management module 20 notifies the data received to theroyalty calculation module 24 in order to update its data base for thecalculation of royalties.

The selection choice step 406 in fact consists of sending to theterminal either dialogue screens generated by the graphic interfacemodule 22 or vocal messages. These screens include, in particular, thelist of available selections, read by the graphic interface module 22from the selection library 23. Taking into account the number ofselections possible, these may be classified by style, by preference, bydate of availability or by frequency of demand. The choice of aselection is, for example, validated by using a validation screen. Thevalidation of the selections leads to a tenth step 410 in which theselection is placed in a file constituting the list of selectionscommanded by the user of the terminal. After validation of a terminal,in an eleventh step, a screen is sent by the server, to determine ifanother selection choice is desired. In the affirmative, the sixth 406,tenth 410 and eleventh 411 steps are carried out once again. In thenegative, the information contained in the file constituting the list ofselections commanded is sent, in a twelfth step 412, to the terminal. Onreceiving this information, the server 2, in a thirteenth step 413,prepares to send digital data corresponding to the selections on thelist. This preparation depends on the type of terminal 1, that is tosay, if the terminal is authorized or is not authorized to store thetransmitted information. If the terminal is authorized to store, beforesending the selections chosen, the communication management module 20 ofthe server 2 notifies the royalty calculation module 24 to record thecopying rights due for the downloading of each selection on the list. Ifthe terminal is not authorized to store the selections, that is to saythe terminal only allows listening to the selections in real time, thecommunication management module 20 of the server 2 notifies the royaltycalculation module 24 to record the reproduction rights of eachselection on the list of selections commanded and possibly copyingrights depending on the legislation currently in force.

Following the sending of the digital data corresponding to theselections commanded to the requesting terminal, a screen generated bythe graphic interface module 22 can be sent to the terminal 1 to enablethe user, either to again command at least one selection and then againrun through the process starting with the selection step or to shut downthe connection with the server 2.

So as to increase the security of the device with respect to illegalcopies or reproductions, the encryption method integrates at least twoencryption keys. When a terminal is registered it receives the two keyswhich are not known to the user.

A first encryption key is identical for every transmission to all theterminals and permits identification of the source of the data, that isto say, the server 2. In contrast, the second key is specific, not onlyto the terminal but also to the type of use which is to be made of theselections. Hence, a terminal which is not authorized to store thedigital data representative of the selections will have available a keywhich does not allow it to decrypt the digital data intended for aterminal authorized to store the digital data and will have a keyavailable that permits another type of use. Similarly, the secondencryption key is different when the selection is to be played back in apublic place or if it is the subject of a one-off payment of royalties.

The software elements installed on the terminal 1 may include means ofcollecting statistical information, for example, about the use made ofthe selections stored on the terminal 1 or on the mode and the periodsof the day during which connections to the server are made. Thesecollection means comprise means of storing statistical information in afile that reports on the data storage means of the terminal. Thecollection means comprise means of transmitting, to the server 2, theinformation contained in this file when a connection is made from theterminal to the server 2. Hence, information such as the date on whichthe selections were replayed, the order in which the selections werechosen and the duration of the connection can be stored and then sent tothe server 2 to be subsequently used for commercial purposes. Similarly,when the terminal 1 is being registered, information on the profile ofthe user or users can be logged so as to complement the recordedstatistics.

Hence, in particular, the information collected by the server 2 andshowing the use made of the selections sent to the terminal can be crossreferenced with the profile of the user or any other statisticalparameter for the purpose, for example, of carrying out market research.

The device according to the invention also integrates means of paymentfor the selection commands. These means of payment can be physicallypresent on the terminal and/or integrated with the process ofcommunication between the terminal and the server. In both cases, thepayment for the selections can intervene at several moments in theprocess.

For reasons of simplifications, “credit” will mean the sum necessary tocommand a selection. In a first variant the credit or credits can beprepaid. In other words, each terminal includes a credit account storedon the data base and administered by a specific module of the server 2.This account is credited by the specific module every time the user ofthe terminal associated with the account desires it. This modificationcan be accommodated by the graphic interface module 22 through a set ofspecific remote payment screens.

A credit is debited from the account by the specific module every time aselection is validated by the user of the terminal 1.

The second method of payment can be payment on each selection. In thiscase, the payment is made during the connection between the server andthe terminal. Hence, at specific instants of the connection, theinterface module 22 sends a set of specific screens, either for remotepayment or for payment through the terminal's payment means. In thiscase, as long as the payment procedure is not validated by a paymentmodule of the server or as long as the sum paid does not correspond tothe number of credits required for the payment of the selectionscommanded, the sending of the selections is not triggered.

The third method of payment is based on a regular payment for thecommand of selections. In this mode of payment, every time a song issent to a terminal 1, a payment module of the server updates an accountassociated with the terminal. Afterwards and periodically, the paymentmodule of the server publishes an invoice which is sent to the user ofthe terminal 1 associated with the account in order to settle theaccount. In this method of payment, the authentication procedure can becomplemented by a method of verifying credit, triggered by the paymentmodule. If a credit payment is not made, the payment module notifies thegraphic interface module 21 to generate a screen which states the creditsituation. This screen is then transmitted to the terminal by thecommunications management module of the server to be displayed on thedisplay means of the terminal. The screen includes, for example, areminder of the credit situation and an invitation to regularize thesituation. Subsequently the server either triggers the pursuit of thecommand procedure or breaks off the connection with the terminal.

As previously explained, the payment can operate at various moments inthe procedure of communication between the server and the terminal.Hence, payment can be requested before the selection step 406. In thiscase, the user of the terminal is invited, by means of a display screen,to indicate how much credit he wants to obtain or how many selections hewishes to make. In another variant, the user of the terminal is invited,by means of a screen, to pay the sum of money that he wishes and theserver 2 on reception of the information corresponding to this sum,sends back the number of credits allocated.

Payment can be made either after each selection, before the updating ofthe file constituting the list of songs commanded or after validation ofthe choice of the last selection before the sending of the informationcontained in the file constituting the list of selections commanded.

What is claimed is:
 1. A jukebox in a system comprising a plurality ofother jukeboxes and a server, the jukebox comprising: a processor; acomputer readable storage medium tangibly storing audiovisual selectionsavailable for playback via the jukebox; and a user interface configuredto cooperate with the processor and to receive user input correspondingto requests to play back one or more of the audiovisual selectionsstored on the computer readable storage medium, wherein a listing ofauthorized uses of the audiovisual selections for the jukebox ismaintained in cooperation with the server, using a code or unique keyassigned to the jukebox, wherein the listing is usable to verify theauthorized uses to which the jukebox may put a given audiovisualselection, wherein the authorized uses correspond to rights that thirdparties have in the audiovisual selections, the rights requiring by lawor regulation payment of royalties for the authorized uses of theaudiovisual selections, and wherein information on the authorized usesmade by each of the jukeboxes in the system is maintained by the server,the server being further configured to use the information on theauthorized uses to determine the amount of royalties due for eachauthorized use.
 2. The jukebox of claim 1, wherein the rights includemaster recording rights, mechanical rights, synchronization rights, andpublic performance rights.
 3. The jukebox of claim 1, wherein theauthorized uses include playing the audiovisual selection withoutstoring the audiovisual selection on the jukebox, storing theaudiovisual selection on the jukebox for unlimited play, and storing theaudiovisual selection on the jukebox for a single play.
 4. The jukeboxof claim 1, wherein each of the rights has a different required royalty,and wherein the server is further configured to maintain information onthe amount of each royalty for use in determining the amount ofroyalties due for each authorized use made by the jukeboxes in thesystem.
 5. The jukebox of claim 1, wherein the jukebox is configured toreceive validation information indicating permissible usage types forthe audiovisual selections.
 6. The jukebox of claim 5, wherein thepermissible usage types include at least (a) storage of datacorresponding to the audiovisual selections in one or more of aplurality of formats, (b) prevention of storage of the data, and (c)playback of the audio-visual selection included in the data.
 7. Thejukebox of claim 6, wherein the plurality of formats include MMP, MP3and WAV.
 8. The jukebox of claim 1, wherein different audiovisualselections have different defined authorized uses.
 9. The jukebox ofclaim 1, wherein at least some data transmitted from the server to thejukebox is both encoded and encrypted.
 10. The jukebox of claim 1,wherein at least some data transmitted from the jukebox to the server isboth encoded and encrypted.
 11. The jukebox of claim 1, wherein one ormore multi-service servers are interposed between the server and thejukeboxes in the system.
 12. The jukebox of claim 1, wherein a pluralitymulti-service servers are interposed between the server and thejukeboxes in the system, each said multi-service server being connectedto the server and one or more of the jukeboxes in the system.
 13. Thejukebox of claim 12, wherein at least one multi-service servers includesa system for the distribution of television programs by cable thatincludes a return channel.
 14. The jukebox of claim 12, wherein at leastone multi-service server includes a mobile telephone operator.
 15. Thejukebox of claim 1, wherein the server is configured to transmit to thejukeboxes in the system validation information indicating permissibleusage types for the audiovisual selections, the validation informationinstructing the jukeboxes in the system whether, how, and where to storemedia of different formats.
 16. The jukebox of claim 15, wherein thedifferent formats include MMP, MP3 and WAV formats.